Ty Simpson walked into a bit of an awkward situation with the Rams. After being selected by the franchise with the 13th overall pick in April, the narrative crafted by the media was of a potential rift in Los Angeles between GM Les Snead, head coach Sean McVay, and even down to QB Matthew Stafford. It was the most polarizing selection of the first round of the draft, and it has been discussed ad nauseum with some defenders and many more who believe it was a mistake for a ready-made Super Bowl contender not to use a premium draft choice on a player who could help them immediately.
But the Rams are playing the long game, using a strategy organizations like the Green Bay Packers have had success with in identifying their future franchise QB while the current franchise QB is still operating at a high level.
Regardless of the feelings of fans, media, or even those inside the Rams locker room, it was obvious that once Simpson got into the building and onto the practice field, he was going to win people over with his work ethic and thirst for knowledge.
That appears to have happened already, and Stafford had nothing but praise for his rookie understudy during a recent interview on the Pat McAfee Show.
Matthew Stafford says Ty Simpson has 'been a sponge' so far with Rams
"I'm in there with him in the meeting room and on the practice field trying to share as much knowledge as I can," Stafford said of Simpson. "Listen, I was a big fan of Ty when he was playing at Alabama. I sent him a text after he got drafted and said, 'really enjoyed watching you play, you were just in the wrong jersey, you weren't a dawg'. I did enjoy watching him play; he's a talented kid.
"I'm going to do whatever I can to get this team ready to play and win, but at the same time share some of the knowledge that I've gained throughout my career because I wouldn't be in the seat that I'm in right now talking to you guys after a really good football season if I didn't have people that were helping me out along the way, too. So I'm happy to do that. He's been a sponge man; he's looking to get better."
It's an awkward position for Stafford. He understands that Simpson was brought in ultimately to replace him. Regardless of what McVay and Snead have said in the aftermath of the draft about Stafford earning the right to play as long as he wants, the NFL is a business at the end of the day. Eventually, they are going to turn the keys over to Simpson, regardless of whether Stafford still feels he has something left in the tank or not.
That won't be this year. Maybe not even next year. But that day is coming. Stafford is smart enough to know that. He's still doing right by Simpson, and the Alabama QB is in the perfect spot to soak up knowledge from a future Hall-of-Fame player at his position.
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